Jewelry that won’t irritate your skin

If you’re allergic to your jewelry, nickel’s probably to blame. This inexpensive metal is often mixed with other, finer metals to change their color or make them stronger.

If you have sensitive skin, here are some metals that won’t irritate your skin:

• Stainless steel. A very strong and solid metal that usually doesn’t irritate skin, despite the presence of nickel

• Sterling or 925 silver. High-end silver is mixed with seven-and-a-half percent copper, not nickel

• Copper. While your skin may temporarily turn green, copper won’t cause an allergic reaction unless it’s mixed with nickel

• Platinum. Thirty times more rare than gold, this metal is strong enough that it doesn’t need to be alloyed with other materials to strengthen it.

• Titanium. As strong as steel but less dense, this metal is often used in medical devices because in most cases the human body doesn’t reject it.

• Zamak. This alloy made of silver, zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper never contains nickel.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to jewelry in the past, talk to a jeweler. He or she will be able to suggest a metal that won’t bother your sensitive skin.